Roe Finally Gets its Propers: Trent Pierce's Seafood Shack named "Most Underrated"

Yesterday’s edition of The Portland Mercury named the unknown eatery “Most Underrated Fine Dining” in Portland.

“If you've never been to Roe—Trent Pierce's dilly of a seafood restaurant tucked in the back of Block & Tackle—stop reading and book a table right now. Seriously,” wrote Merc contributor MJ Skegg. “Though you wouldn't know it from the low profile he keeps, Pierce is one of the best chefs in town.”

If you were to attempt to take Skegg’s advice and make a reservation right now, it would be for, at the earliest, next Thursday, when you can get in at 5:15 pm. Want a seating for two at 6:30 pm? Wait until August 7, if you’re booking online.

Though Pierce is certainly “low profile”—not the sort of guy you spot on television or at trendy benefit galas—serious critical acclaim had so-far eluded the restaurant. Thankfully, that now comes thanks to a Mercury freelancer.

Yes, Trent Pierce was nominated for best chef in the Northwest by the James Beard Foundation this year.

Yes, the New York Times dispatched a writer to Roe, who gave a stellar review.

Yes, GQ magazine named it among the best 25 new restaurants in America.

Yes, it was among Portland Monthly’s top 10 restaurants of the year.

Yes, the Oregonian named chef Trent Pierce his 2013 innovator of the year—an award that didn’t exist in 2012 or 2014, which means it was probably invented just to recognize Pierce without pushing elderly Oregonian readers into a dim den full of weird raw fish.

Yes, Roe has 4.5 stars on Yelp.

Yes, we’ve been mostly keeping it a secret ourselves, other than tipping our hand a bit by naming it our Restaurant of the Year in October 2013.

Finally, though, Pierce’s ship has come in.

Also underrated: Luce, which has been ignored other than being “one of Bon Appétit's best new restaurants...” not yet two years ago.